Just used a chony for the first time. This is cool. My loads for my 6mm were sucky. Load data listed 3820 with RL-15, I got average of 3550. But my ruger 30-06 with a 22" barrel cranked out 180gr hornadys at 2845 with RL-19. Wow that was ripping the deveation was only 20FPS. That was with the max load of 60gr. I thought with a short barrel I wouldn't even get to the llisted seed, never mind going over.

Southpaw: congrats on the chronograph. With all the money we lavish on accessories and firearms and the components, it is all made more meaningful when you know what your firearm and loads are doing. I would be disadvantaged in developing loads without the data to support the performance of each variation.

Chronographs, too, can be another tool in knowing pressure of loads, or, at least, when loads are getting to their maximum efficiency. When adding a specific amount of powder with incremental loads, the velocity increase is nearly predictable. When that increase begins to lessen, it is a sign that maximum workable pressures are being encountered. And, its time to back off.

Southpaw, I'm sure you'll enjoy the Chrony.
Particularly when you firest get a chronograph, they can be very illuminating- and sometimes disillusioning.

Chronys sure wake you up! They have a funny way of poping your bubble.

On the other hand, on several occasions I have found my loads to be quite a bit faster than what they should be. My favorite 45-70 load is doing about 200 FPS more than what is listed in the Speer manual. 2060 FPS with 400 gr Speer.

Ya know, I really have to invest in one of those. Better order one this summer before next moose season.

Southpaw:

Before you begin cranking up your 6mm loads, it would be advisable to establish some sort of baseline, so you can tell if your gun shoots all loads "slow", or if its actually a problem with the load.

I like to do this with factory loads, and see if I get velocities equal to the published levels. It also nice if you have some test data on these loads done by someone else in their gun. A great and reliable source can be magazine articles where the writer is testing a new powder or bullet. Back issues of "Handloader" are great for this.

Remember, barrels shorter than the test barrel tend to give lower velocities. In one of my 30-06s, I'll get 96 fps less velocity than published with its 22" barrel.

Which Brand and model did you get ?? How much did it set you back? That is if you don't mind me asking